Loaf creasing and cutting means for



septf 21, 1937#A l w. G. KmcHHor-'F LOAF CREASING AND CUTTING M EANS FOR DOUGH MOLDERS 2 sheets-shea 1 Original Filed Feb. 23, 1963 Y W. G. AKIRCHHOFF LOAF CREASING AND CUTTING MEANS FOR DOUGH HOLDERS Sept. 21, 1937.

Original Filed Feb. 225, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Syvum Reissued Sept. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE LOAF CREASIN G AND CUTTING MEANS FOR DOUGH MOLDERS a corporation of Ohio Original No. 2,017,281, dated October 15, 1935,

Serial No. 658,012, February 23, 1933.

Application for reissue April 4, 1936, Serial No. 72,798

23 Claims.

This invention relates to improved means for use in connection with dough molders or the like, for creasing or grooving a cylindrical molded mass and subsequently cutting same transversely into two or more short sections.

An object of the invention is to provide in a device of the above stated character, improved creasing and cutting means that function in a superior manner to divide loaves With a minimum of skin rupture of the loaf.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for creasing and dividing plastic rolls or cylinders, whereby an ordinary or standard molder readily may be converted into a special molder, without altering the standard machine.

A further object is to provide simple and inexpensive means for accomplishing the above objects.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in Which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a pressure board embodying the invention, showing its rer lationship to a molder drum.

Fig. 2 is a. fragmental plan view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental elevational View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5` is a cross-sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a View, partly in longitudinal crosssection, showing a modication of the` invention.

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views showing complementary parts of an improved pressure board of Fig. 6.

In the molding of plastic dough masses it is sometimes desirable to divide the elongated cylindrical molded mass into two or more lengths to provide shorter loaves or sections which may be placed into the bake pans in various positions, or to divide the elongated mass into a suflicient number of short sections as will provide buns, biscuits, or the like. Such dividing of the molded mass is effected by means of a multiribbed pressure board which is so equipped that it will automatically measure oii and divide the mass into predetermined lengths. Although pressure boards for accomplishing the foregoing described dividing of loaves have been made and used heretofore, they have not been developed to the extent that the finished product formed thereby satisfied the requirements of a properly severed length of dough.

In accordance with the present invention, the cutting or dividing of the mass into predetermined lengths is accomplished practically without rupture or bleeding of the ends resulting from dividing molded lengths of dough.l The means of the invention, furthermore, is properly designed so that a standard dough molding ma-4 chine may be employed to produce a plurality of the loaves or sections by the mere substitution of one type of pressure board for another in an. existing drum type molder.

In the drawings, 6 indicates a curved pressure board associated with the drum 'I of a dough molder in the well known manner. 'I'he pressure board and the` curved outer surface of the drum are mounted in substantially uniformly spaced relationship in accordance with the com-. mon practice, the place of entry of loaves being indicated at 8. The pressure board includes one or more brackets S which serve to support the board in position upon a dough molder frame (not shown).

The characters IU indicate a series of spaced parallel ribs or creasing elements which may be fixed to the inner curved surface I2 of the pressure board by the use of any suitable means such as bolts, screws or the like I3. Ihese securing elements preferably pass through the openings I4 provided in the pressure board, and they threadedly engage threaded bores` I5 provided in the backs I6 of the ribs.

As is most clearly indicated in Fig. 5, each rib Il! is constituted of a base portion I'I which abuts the inner surface I2 of the pressure board, and extending from said base portion is the creasing or grooving portion I8. Attention is` directed to the fact that the creasing portion is devoid of sharp corners, said portion being decidedly rounded as at I9 along substantially the entire length of the rib'. The purpose of the rounded top edge I9 is to preclude the possibility of rupturing or cutting the skin of the molded piece during the entire creasing or grooving operation, so that the fine and even grain or texture of the molded Substance will not be injuriously affected prior to ejection of the divided masses.

As is readily apparent from an examination of Fig. 1 the ribbing or ribs are gradually tapered so that the height of the creasing portion I8 grad.- ually increases from the lower end 49 to a point 20 adjacent to the upper end of each rib.

Thus, a molded and elongated mass of dough 2| travelling in the direction indicated, will move toward and between the series of spaced ribs, and said ribs. will impr-ess grooves or creases into the elongated mass as it is advanced toward the discharge port 22.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be observed that each rib or creasing element has a portion of its upper end cut or milled out so as to provide a channel 23 for reception. of a sharpened cutting element 24, which may be a blade of metal or any other suitable material. The channel or slot 23 preferably is fo-rmed at right angles to the base portion I 1 and includes part of the creasing element I8, whereby tov provide the spaced parallel walls 25 and, 26 which serve to support the cutting element therebetween.

Means. are provided for adjusting the blade member or cutting element to various positions of extension from the slot or channel 23, and said means may comprise a screw 21 which is threaded into the material of the pressure board as indicated at 28. The head end of the screw is advantageously provi-ded with a slot or any other suitable means. 29 for reception of a tool for effecting rotation of the adjusting screw. The innermost end 3!) of the scr-ew is adapted to abut a surface or seat 3| provided by the cutting element.

The spaced walls 25 and 26 of that portion of the rib which supports the cutting element (see Fig. 5) preferably are provided with suitable means for clamping the cutting element in adjusted positions as determined by the adjusting screw 21. A simple form of clamping means may consist of a screw or the like 32 which is freely received in. an opening or perforation 33 of the wall 26, the: threaded end 34 of the screw being in threaded engagement with an aligned threaded opening in the opposite wall 25. The head of the screw 32 preferably is countersunk into the material of the rim, as shown. In order that the blade or cutting element may have limited movement within the slot 23, said blade is provided with an elongated perforation 35 for reception of the locking screw 32. The cutting edge 36 of the blade el-ement preferably is provided at its forward end with a` sharpened inclination 31 which facilitates entry of the sharpened edge into the creased or grooved area of the partly divided mass. As is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, the tail end 38 of the blade may be extended toward the melder drum by merely actuating the adjusting screw 21 while the locking screw 32 is in a slightly tightened condition, while the back 39 of the head end of the blade may rest upon the inner face of the pressure board.

It is to be noted that the pressure board, in order to be equipped with the creasing and cutting unit above described need not be slotted or otherwise cut to such an extentas would result in weakening the discharge end of the pressure board. All parts of the creasing and cutting mechanism are supported directly by the pressure board and may, in effect, be considered part of the pressure board, so that a standard dough melder may be equipped in accordance with this invention by the mere substitution. of the irnproved pressure board structure for that which was originally applied to the molder.

When it is desired to replace the cutting element 24 with a new' or reconditioned one, or oneof a different size, it is necessary only to remove the locking screw 32 and retract the adjusting screw 21 sufficiently to permit lifting of the cutting element from the slot.

'Ihat portion of the pressure board which performs to mold the mass 2| into cylindrical form may or may not be covered with a sheet 40 of canvas or' other suitable material capable of precluding sticking of the mass to the inner surface of the pressure boar-d. The elements 4I and 42 indicate strengthening and supporting members for the pressure board, which form no part of the present invention.

. In the modication illustrated by Figs. G, 7, and 8, 43 and 44 indicate, respectively, one side flange and the convex rolling surface of a dough melder drum, adjacent to which is supported a pressure board 45 with a separable creasing and dividing unit. attached thereto. Said unit preferably consists of a plate 45, having a curvature corresponding to that of the pressure board 45, and having fixed to its concave face a series of creasing ribs 41 each of which includes an adjustable blade 68 similar to the blade 24 of Figs. 4 and 5. It is to be noted particularly that each of the opposite side edges 49 of the curved plate is bounded by a half rib 5I, that is, a rib which is bisected by a plane extending longitudinally of the rib at right angles to its base 5E. The purpose of this side rib construction is to protect the loaf ends from the tearing or skin rupturing action of the drum side flanges. It is to be understood that this invention contemplates the provision of any number of ribs such as 41 between the bounding or side rib elements 5|.

As will be readily apparent, some form of means is needed to detachably secure the ribbed plate 45 to the pressure board l5 in such a manner that the ribbed plate tti might easily be removed bodily and replaced, with another one having fewer or more ribs, if desired. One form of such means is illustrated, although various types of securing devices readily manifest themselves to the constructor. In accordance with the disclosure, the

plate 46 has a. lower' free end 52 adapted to fit beneath a suitable abutting or retaining ange 53 carried by the concave face of the pressure board. The flange may be provided by a properly shaped strip disposed transversely of the pressure board, and said strip may be further provided with a second flange 56, also spaced slightly from the pressure board, to receive and cover the lower edge 55 of a fabric or like covering means 56 for that portion of the pressure board not covered by the rib; supporting plate. When the pressure board is. not to be provided with covering material 5E, the flange 54 preferably is. omitted.

As is most clearly shown by Figs. '7 and 8, the upper terminal edges of both the pressure board and plate 4E, are provided with a series of rib guides which may be in the form of coinciding detents or cut-outs 51 and 58. Each rib has formed at its upper end a hook portion 53 which is adapted to receive therein the base edges 5|) and 6| of each detent 51 and 58. Any suitable means may be provided for maintaining the hooks in position, there being shown, as exemplary of such means, a pin or rod 62 which enters perforations 53 and 6d in the pressure board and rib supporting plate, respectively.

In order that the pin may not become disassociated from the pressure board and misplaced, or lost, a chain or the like may be employed as shown.

Any suitable means, such as screws, rivets or the like 65, may be utilized for fixing each rib to the plate 4B.

In this form of the device, it is plainly evident that the operator of the machine, upon desiring to change the size or number of dough divisions, need only remove the pin 62 and then lift the ribcarrying unit or plate bodily upwardly from its position upon the pressure board, whereupon he may replace the unit or plate with another one having a greater or fewer number of ribs such as 41. The pressure board 45, therefore, need never be removed except for cleaning or possible repairs. The creasing ribs 41 have all the physical characteristics of the creasing ribs of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, with the addition of the hook portion above referred to.

Like the creasing and dividing ribs of Figs. 1 to 5, those illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 include severing blades or cutter elements 48. These blades may rest Within grooves 61 formed in the upper terminal ends of the ribs, and each preferably has an elongated perforation 68 for reception of a screw or the like 69 which clamps the blade between the confining side walls of the groove. An adjusting screw 1D, threaded into the material of the hook portion, impinges upon the back of the blade at 1| so as to provide a means for advancing the blade to adjusted positions relative to the drum surface 44 while the lock screw 69 is in a loosened or partially loosened condition. It is to be understood that the adjustment means 1D is only illustrative of one practical means for adjusting the blade. Each of the series of adjacent blades 41 is constructed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6.

It is to be understood that various modications and changes in structural details of the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing Vfro-m the spirit of the present invention.

In the operation of the device, lumps of dough are fed at 8, into the channel between the drum 1, flanges 43, and pressure board 6 or 45. At this stage of development of the dough, the lump of dough is in the form of an elongated roll of limited length. To develop such roll, a lump of dough is passed through a sheeting and roll form.- ing device, for example as shown in Kirchhoff Patent 1,867,223.

The roll, at the time it enters the channel at 8 as shown herein, is of a length less than the width of the channel. The roll is introduced into said channel at the center thereof, and as the ro-ll passes through the channel, the roll is stretched laterally. As the ro-ll approaches the discharge end of the channel and at about the time the roll reaches the ribs. lll and 5I, the dough has stretched laterally to such extent that it substantially spans the channel, transversely thereof. The outer ends of the roll are in such position that further lateral stretching of the roll would bring the ends of the dough roll into contact with the flanges 43. The outer-most or end ribs of the pressure board serve to shield the dough from Contact with the flanges and preclude contact of the ends of the dough rolls upon the flanges. In the absence of such end ribs, the rolling action of dough through\ the channel would result in contact of the dough upon the flanges, Whether the flanges be stationary or movable, tending to vary the rate of speed at which the ends of dough in contact with the flanges move, relative to the other parts of the rolls. This variation in rate of speed or rate of movement serves to rupture and distort the dough ends and also causes part of the dough roll to discharge from the channel in advance of other parts of the roll. The end ribs assure advancement of the outer ends of the dough rolls at the c same rate of speed as the remainder of the dough roll.

In the prior constructions wherein the loaf ends were permitted to contact the flanges at the sides of the molder drum, the resultant uneven discharge of the loaves invariably resulted in interference with the timing of loaf advancement through the various processing steps.. As is well known, baking machinery engineers have as their paramount problem, the maintenance of a timed succession of loaf movement from one dough working machine to another. At the discharge ends of dough molders, thev problem heretofore had been unsolved. The loaves not only became cocked in the machine, and distorted at the discharging end, but they left particles of dough adhering to the flanges at the drum sides. This aggravated the condition by further increasing the tendency of succeeding loaves to have one or both of their ends pulled out of shape and out of position by the resultant variations of affinity of the loaf ends for the sticky dough on the flanges. As the condition of the flanges changed during operation of the molder, the rate of loaf discharge changed also, so that the timed movement of loaves through the plant was seriously affected. By means of the present invention, the troublesome conditions above mentioned have been greatly improved and practically eliminated.

What is claimed is:

l. In a device of the class described the combination of a molder drum having a curved outer surface, a pressure board having approximately the same curvature as the said drum surface and arranged in spaced relation therewith, and loaf creasing and severing means carried by the pressure board, said creasing and severing means comprising a tapering curved rib having a decidedly rounded top edge incapable of puncturing the skin of a molded loaf, a sharpened cutting element fixed relative to the rib and adapted to cut the loaf at the crease formed by the rounded top edge of the rib, and adjusting means for said element disposed wholly within the circle arc which defines the pressure board.

2. In a device of the class described the cornbinaticn of a molder drum having a curved outer surface, a pressure board having approximately the same curvature as the said drum surface and arranged in spaced relation therewith, a slotted loaf creasing rib fixed upon the inner face of the pressure board, a cutting element, and means for adjustably xing the cutting element within the slot of the rib, whereby the pressure board, the rib and the cutting element and its adjusting means,

are removable and replaceable as a unit with respect to the molder drum.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a molder drum having a curved outer surface, a pressure board having approximately the same curvature as the said drum surface and arranged in spaced relation therewith, loaf creasing and severing means carried by the pressure board, said creasing and severing means comprising a tapering rib having a decidedly rounded top edge incapable of puncturing the skin of a molded loaf, a sharpened cutting element adapted to cut the loaf at the crease formed by the rounded top edge of the rib, means for fixing the cutting element upon the rib and means for adjusting the cutting element thereon.

4. In a device of the class described the combination of a molder drum having a curved outer surface, a pressure board having approximately the same curvature as the said drum surface and arranged in spaced relation therewith, a loaf creasing rib having a slotted end said rib being secured to the curved inner surface of the pressure board with the slotted end thereof disposed upon the pressure board near an vedge of the pressure board, a cutting element fixed in the slot of the rib so that it may rest upon the pressure board, and screw means threaded in the materia] of the pressure board and extending therethrough for abutting the cutting element and moving it toward and from the pressure board, and means for locking the cutting element in adjusted positions,

5. In a device of the class described the combination of a molder drum having a curvedouter surface, a pressure board having approximately the same curvature as the said drum surface and arranged in spaced relation therewith, a loaf creasing rib having a slotted end said rib being secured to the curved inner surface of the pressure board with the slotted end thereof disposed near an edge of the pressure board, a cutting element fixed in the slot of the rib and screw means threaded in the material of the pressure board and extending therethrough for abutting the cutting element and moving it toward and from the pressure board.

6. As a new article of manufacture a pressure board for dough working machinery, said pressure board having a removable section of a width approximating the width of the pressure board and provided with parallel longitudinal loaf creasing ribs, means for securing said section to the board so as to cover part of the length of the board from one side edge thereof to the other side edge, and a cutting element fixed at an end of each rib.

7. As a new article of manufacture an arcuate pressure board for dough working machinery, said pressure board having a removable creasing section of awidth approximating the width of the pressure board, means for securing said section upon the board so as to cover part of the length of the board from one side edge thereof to the other side edge, and a creasing means carried by the board and comprising a tapered arcuate rib having a decidedly rounded creasing edge.

8. As a new article of manufacture an arcuate pressure board for dough working machinery, said pressure board having a removable creasing section of a width approximating the width of the pressure board, means for fixing said section to the board so as to cover part of the length of the board from one side edge thereof to the other side edge, a creasing means carried by the removable section and comprising a tapered arcuate rib having a decidedly rounded creasing edge, and a sharpened cutting edge provided adjacent to the rounded creasing edge and fixed at one end of the rib.

9. As a new article of manufacture a. pressure board for dough working machinery, said pressure board comprising a molding section and a creasing section, a creasing means carried by the board and comprising a tapered slotted rib having'a decidedly rounded creasing edge, the slot of the rib being disposed at one end of the rib and extending from the end inwardly to provide spaced parallel walls, a sharpened cutting element supported between said spaced walls and having its sharpened edge extending outwardly of the rib contour, while its back edge extends toward the pressure board no farther than the rib, means for securing the rib to the pressure board, and means conned within the limits of the rib and the pressure board for varying the position of the cutting element with respect to the creasing edge-of the rib.

10. As a new article lof manufacture a pressure board for dough working machinery, said pressure board comprising a molding section and a creasing section, a creasing means carried by the board and comprising a tapered slotted rib having a decidedly rounded creasing edge, the slot of the rib being disposed at one end of the rib and extending from the end inwardly yto pro-- vide spaced parallel resilient walls, a sharpened cutting elementfsupported between said spaced walls and having its sharpened edge extending outwardly of the rib contour, means for securing the rib to the pressure board, adjusting means carried by the pressure board for varying the positionl of the cutting element with respect to the creasing edge of the rib, and means for contracting the spaced resilient walls of the rib upon the interposed cutting element to frictionally bind the cutting element between said walls.

1l. As a new article of manufacture a pressure board for dough working machinery, said pressure board comprising a molding section and a creasing section, a creasing means carried by the board and comprising a tapered slotted rib having a decidedly rounded creasing edge, the slot of the rib being disposed at one end of the rib and extending from the enjd inwardly toi providie spaced parallel resilient walls, a sharpened cutting element supported between said spaced walls and having its sharpened edge extending outwardly of the rib contour, means for securing the rib to the pressure board, adjusting means carried by the pressure board for varying the position of the cutting element with respect to the creasing edge of the rib land means including a clamping screw arranged transversely of the slot of the rib and passing through the cutting element for securing the cutting element against displacement from its adjusted positions.

12. As a new article of manufacture a pressure board for dough working machinery having a transverse ange strip secured to the working face of the board and providing a receptive channel for a plate and an opposed receptive channel for a cover sheet.

13. In combination a pressure board for dough Working machinery, a creasing rib unit comprising a plate of substantially the width of the pressure board shaped to cover part of the pressure board, and a series of creasing ribs each of which is i'lxedly mounted upon the plate in substantial parallelism, and means for detachably securing the creasing rib unit, including the plate, bodily upon the pressure board.

14. As a new article of manufacture a pressure board element for use with dough molding apparatus having side flanges, said pressure board element being in the form of a plate having opposite sides, and walls bounding said opposite sides to preclude contact of dough masses upon the side flanges of the molding apparatus, said walls having inner surfaces inclined at an obtuse angle to the pressure board for rolling dough loaf ends without tearing and rupturing the skin thereof.

l5. In a device of the class described the combination of a molder drum having a curved outer surface, a pressure board having approximately the same curvature as the said drum surface and arranged in spaced relation therewith, and a creasing and severing unit detachably supported upon the inner concave surface of the pressure board, said unit being constituted of a separate plate having a curvature corresponding to that of the pressure board, and creasing ribs secured to the separate plate in spaced relationship.

16. In a device of the class described the combination of a molder drum having a curved outer surface, a pressure board having approximately the same curvature as the said drum surface and arranged in spaced relation therewith, a creasing and severing unit detachably supported upon the inner concave surface of the pressure board, said unit being constituted of a separate plate having a curvature corresponding to that of the pressure board, creasing ribs secured to the separate plate in spaced relationship, and means for detachably securing the rib carrying plate in abutment upon the pressure board to preclude relative shifting of the plate and pressure board.

17. In a device of the class described the combination of a dough molding element having a dough pressing surface, a pressure board arranged in spaced relation with said pressing surface, and a dough creasing and severing unit detachably supported upon the pressure board adjacent to the pressing surface of the dough molding element, said unit being constituted of a separate bodily removable plate, and creasing ribs secured to the plate, and means for detachably holding the bodily removable rib-carrying plate against movement relative to the pressure board.

18. In a dough molder, the combination of a rotatable drum, a pressure board and spaced means extending between the pressure board to the drum and together with the drum and pressure board providing a channel, the drum being rotatable relative to the pressure board whereby to roll and laterally stretch rolls of dough between the drum and pressure board incident to the relative movement of the drum and pressure board and to cause the opposite ends of the rolls of dough to approach the spaced means, a rib at each side of the discharge end of the pressure board for precluding contact of the ends of the rolls upon the spaced means, and an inclined face on each rib forming an obtuse angle with the pressure board, said faces providing stops to deect the roll ends and prevent the spaced means aforesaid from influencing the speed of advancement of said roll ends.

19. In a dough molder the combination of a pair of spaced relatively movable dough working elements, spaced flanges bounding the sides of one of said elements for providing an oblong channel having sides, through which channel lumps of dough are rolled and elongated by reason of the relative movement of said elements, means bounding the lateral edges of the other one of said elements, and fitted between said flanges, for shielding the outer ends. of the dough lumps from contact with the flanges, and inclined faces on said bounding means for contacting the dough lump ends to obviate movement of the ends of the dough lumps through the channel at a rate of speed other than the rate at which intermediate parts of the dough lumps move through the channel.

20. In a dough molder the combination of a pair of spaced relatively movable dough working elements, spaced anges bounding the sides of one of said elements for providing an oblong channel having sides, through which channel loaves of dough are rolled and elongated by reason of the relative movement of said elements, and means including inclined walls at an obtuse angle to the working faces of the channel for inwardly deecting dough loaf ends away from the flanges during the rolling and elongating of the loaf.

21. In a dough molder, the combination of a rotatable drum, a pressure board and spaced means extending between the pressure board and the drum, and together with the drum and pressure board providing a channel, the drum being rotatable relative to the pressure board whereby to roll and laterally stretch rolls of dough between the drum and pressure board incident to the relative movement of the drum and pressure board and to cause the opposite ends of rolls of dough to approach the spaced means, and a rib at each side of the discharge end of the pressure board, said ribs being located adjacent the spaced means aforesaid, and directed toward the drum but falling short of contact with the drum, and means on each rib for deiiecting said ends of the dough rolls away from the spaced means between the drum and pressure board so that said spaced means may not influence the speed of advancement of the dough roll ends.

22. In a dough molder, the combination of a pair of spaced relatively movable dough working elements, spaced anges bounding the sides of one of said elements for providing an oblong channel having sides, through which channel lumps of dough are rolled and elongated by reason of the relative movement of said elements, and ribs mounted upon one of said elements and spaced `considerably from the other of said elements, each of said ribs including means for shielding and inwardly deflecting dough loaf ends away from the flanges during the rolling and elcngating of the loaf so that said flanges may not influence the speed of .advancement of the dough loaf ends.

23. As a new article of manufacture a pressure board for use with dough molding apparatus, said pressure board being in the form of a plate having opposite sides, and walls bounding said opposite sides to preclude contact of dough masses upon the side flanges of the molding apparatus, said Walls having inner surfaces inclined at an obtuse angle to the pressure board for rolling dough loaf ends without tearing and rupturing the skin thereof.

WILLIAM G. KIRCHI-IOFF. 

